More Than Half of AtWork’s Franchisees are Women, Driving System-Wide Growth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (March 4, 2025) – AtWork®, a leader in the staffing industry, is celebrating Women’s History Month by recognizing two of its exceptional franchise owners, Unnati Patel-Hall and Ginger Herrington. These trailblazing women have successfully navigated the staffing industry and business ownership, bringing personalized service, leadership, and explosive growth to their businesses.

“AtWork is proud to support and empower women entrepreneurs in the staffing industry,” said Jason Leverant, President and COO of AtWork. “Unnati and Ginger’s stories demonstrate the impact of dedication, perseverance, and business acumen. Their success reinforces our commitment to helping franchisees thrive with the support and resources they need.”

A study by Guidant Financial shows that the number of women entering the franchising industry has grown by 9% between 2019 and 2024, reaching 30%. While more than half of AtWork franchisees are women.

Unnati Patel-Hall: From Franchisee to Corporate Leader and Back Again

A staffing industry veteran, Unnati Patel-Hall began her journey in 2009, working for a staffing franchise in Virginia Beach. Her career evolved from data entry to recruitment, eventually leading her to open her first AtWork franchise in Orlando in 2015. As a first-generation American and woman of color, Patel-Hall acknowledges the unique challenges she faces in a male-dominated industry but sees them as an advantage.

“Franchising is about relationships. I do not approach clients as a transaction but as a long-term partnership,” said Patel-Hall. “Women need to lean on each other, trust their instincts, and take the leap into business ownership. The only thing holding us back is ourselves.”

After six successful years with her Orlando office, Patel-Hall sold the location and transitioned to AtWork’s corporate team. She served as Vice President of Franchise Performance and Vice President of Field Operations for three years. Last April, the opportunity arose for her to return to franchise ownership by acquiring AtWork Northwest Houston.

While Patel-Hall’s first location was built from the ground up, her latest challenge has been taking on an existing location from afar. In less than a year, Patel-Hall has hired new staff and brought on 10 new clients.

Ginger Herrington: Rapidly Rising in Staffing

With nearly 30 years in staffing, Ginger Herrington has worked with thousands of businesses in the Jacksonville area, holding leadership roles at a competing staffing agency. But in 2024, a corporate restructure pushed her to pursue her dream of business ownership.

“I come from a family of business owners, and I always knew I wanted to run my own company,” said Herrington. “AtWork felt like the perfect fit. They allow me to bring a personalized, local approach to staffing while having the support of an established brand.”

Herrington opened AtWork Jacksonville in April 2024 and has already made a significant impact, securing 28 new clients in less than a year—one of the highest growth rates in the entire franchise system. She specializes in logistics, port work, and construction staffing, capitalizing on Jacksonville’s booming transportation and logistics industries.

As a female first-time business owner, Herrington acknowledges that entrepreneurship comes with challenges, but she encourages women to find mentors and diverse perspectives to help them grow.

“You do not need a room full of people who think exactly like you,” Herrington said. “Surround yourself with different viewpoints—it makes problem-solving and innovation so much stronger.”

AtWork is dedicated to fostering a culture of support, mentorship, and opportunity for women in franchising. With a network of strong female franchisees, AtWork continues to champion women who are driving growth and innovation in the staffing industry.

To learn more about AtWork’s franchise opportunity, visit https://www.atwork.com/franchise.

About AtWork

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, AtWork is an award-winning staffing franchise with more than 100 locations. For more than 30 years, leading companies from across the nation have trusted AtWork to recruit the best talent. Recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Largest and Best Staffing Firms to work for in the U.S. and as an Entrepreneur Verified Franchise, AtWork can staff an entire production facility or provide temporary support that keeps businesses thriving. AtWork’s dedication and unparalleled service earned them Clearly Rated’s Best of Staffing®️ award for client and talent satisfaction. Additionally, the franchise’s growth and support for its franchisees have secured them a place on Franchise Business Review’s (FBR) Top 200 Franchise ranking for seven years in a row and is in the FBR Hall of Fame for 10+ years of stellar performance. AtWork is also ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, Franchise Times Top 400, and Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. To learn more about AtWork’s services, visit www.atwork.com.